1998 FLEETWOOD WILDERNESS — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

I HAVE A 1998 WILDERNESS 5TH WHEEL CAMPING TRAILER. THE REFRIGERATOR IN THIS UNIT IS A DOMETIC MODEL RM2652 SERIAL NO. 81303309. I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM DOMETIC INFORMING ME TO TAKE MY UNIT TO AN AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER TO HAVE AN UPDATE INSTALLED IN THE REFRIGERATOR TO PREVENT A FIRE. I TOOK THE UNIT TO CAMPING WORLD IN DENVER, CO AND THEY DID THE RECALL UPDATE. MY REFRIGERATOR NEVER WORKED AGAIN AFTER I RECEIVED THE UNIT BACK FROM THEM. UPON INSPECTION I FOUND A LOT OF YELLOW RESIDE IN THE BACK OF THE REFRIGERATOR AND A BURNING SMELL. I REMOVED THE REFRIGERATOR FROM THE TRAILER AND REMOVED THE COVER AND INSULATION FROM THE HEATING TUBE AND FOUND THAT THE TUBE WAS BROKEN. I HAVE CONTACTED SEVERAL RECREATION VEHICLE SUPPLIERS IN COLORADO AND WYOMING AND THEY HAVE ALL INDICATED THE SAME THING. THE HEATING TUBES ARE WEAK AND SUBJECT TO BREAKING IF BUMPED OR MOVED. THE DOMETIC RECALL REQUIRED REPAIRS TO BE MADE AROUND THE HEATING TUBE. THE DEALERS ALSO SAID THAT THESE REFRIGERATOR ARE IN GREAT DEMAND RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE IN THE HEATING TUBES. I APPEARS THAT THE DOMETIC COMPANY AND THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALERS ARE MAKING A PROFIT FROM THE SALES OF THESE UNITS THAT HAVE TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE RECALL. THESE REFRIGERATORS COST OVER $1300.00 TO REPLACE. THIS IS DEFINITELY A FINANCIAL BURDEN ON THE OWNERS THAT HAVE TO HAVE THESE UNITS REPLACED. IT ALSO CREATES A HEALTH HAZARD FROM THE YELLOW RESIDUE DUST THAT IS IN THE REFRIGERATOR COMPARTMENT AND FROM THE AMMONIA ODORS THE ARE RELEASED AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. I CONTACTED DOMETIC AND THEY CLAIM NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM AND REFUSED TO PROVIDE ME WITH ANY INFORMATION DESCRIBING WHAT WAS DONE TO MY REFRIGERATOR FOR THE RECALL. *TR

5TH WHEEL TRAILER: THE BARGMAN 7-WAY ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR PLUG CAME LOOSE FROM ITS BARGMAN SOCKET MOUNTED IN THE WHEEL WELL OF THE OWNER'S TOW VEHICLE. AS A RESULT THE ELECTRICAL BRAKES ON THE 32 FOOT 5TH WHEEL TRAILER WERE NOT WORKING AS THE OWNER AND HIS WIFE DESCENDED THE VERY STEEP WEST SIDE OF THE TETON MOUNTAINS IN WYOMING. AS A RESULT THE BRAKES ON THE TOW VEHICLE BURNED OUT LEAVING THE ENTIRE RIG WITHOUT BRAKES CAUSING A TRAGIC ACCIDENT RESULTING IN THE EVENTUAL DEATH OF THE PASSENGER/ WIFE OF THE DRIVER. THE DRIVER WAS NOT ALERTED TO THE FACT THE BARGMAN NO. 67 PLUG HAD BECOME DISCONNECTED BECAUSE THE DRAW-TITE BRAKE CONTROL UNIT INSTALLED BY THE DEALER IN THE CAB OF THE TOW VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE AN INDICATOR LIGHT ON IT TO ADVISE THE DRIVER THAT THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT TO THE ELECTRICAL TRAILER BRAKES WAS LOST.*AK

5TH WHEEL TRAILER: THE BARGMAN 7-WAY ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR PLUG CAME LOOSE FROM ITS BARGMAN SOCKET MOUNTED IN THE WHEEL WELL OF THE OWNER'S TOW VEHICLE. AS A RESULT THE ELECTRICAL BRAKES ON THE 32 FOOT 5TH WHEEL TRAILER WERE NOT WORKING AS THE OWNER AND HIS WIFE DESCENDED THE VERY STEEP WEST SIDE OF THE TETON MOUNTAINS IN WYOMING. AS A RESULT THE BRAKES ON THE TOW VEHICLE BURNED OUT LEAVING THE ENTIRE RIG WITHOUT BRAKES CAUSING A TRAGIC ACCIDENT RESULTING IN THE EVENTUAL DEATH OF THE PASSENGER/ WIFE OF THE DRIVER. THE DRIVER WAS NOT ALERTED TO THE FACT THE BARGMAN NO. 67 PLUG HAD BECOME DISCONNECTED BECAUSE THE DRAW-TITE BRAKE CONTROL UNIT INSTALLED BY THE DEALER IN THE CAB OF THE TOW VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE AN INDICATOR LIGHT ON IT TO ADVISE THE DRIVER THAT THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT TO THE ELECTRICAL TRAILER BRAKES WAS LOST.*AK

"BARGMAN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR" CAME LOOSE FROM SOCKET WHILE TOWING, RESULTED IN LOSS OF BRAKES ON TRAILER, AND CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WHICH RESULTED IN A FATALITY. BARGMAN IS AN ELECTRICAL CONX THAT CONNECTS TRAILER TO TOW VEHICLE.*AK

"BARGMAN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR" CAME LOOSE FROM SOCKET WHILE TOWING, RESULTED IN LOSS OF BRAKES ON TRAILER, AND CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WHICH RESULTED IN A FATALITY. BARGMAN IS AN ELECTRICAL CONX THAT CONNECTS TRAILER TO TOW VEHICLE.*AK